DytSpectrumOwl thermal analyzer for PCBA R&D, heating material etc.,

[Dianyang]

Hi guys,

As there are many R&D and maintenance engineers need thermal to analyze the PCBAs, here we released a new product dedicated for PCBA thermal analysis, the specification is listed below,

Thermal imaging resolution: 260*200
FPS: 25Hz
NETD: 70mk@25°C
Measured temperature range: -10~120°C (will software upgrade to >400°C in the near future)
Power & data: via USB type-C connect with computer
software: compatible with Windows 10 & Windows 7 (need .net framework 4.6.1 or higher)
CPU: Intel i3 or higher


The features are listed below,
1. Support points, line, rectangle and polygon temperature measurement.
2. High temperature tracing and alarm
3. Press one button to show the highest temperature area.
4. Quick compare the rectangle area and other area with different color palette.
5. Adjust the temperature range to show the top high temperature areas.
6. Take pictures and record videos.
7. Real-time 3D and 2D thermal imaging.
8. Temperature curve to know the history temperature.
9. Mark the picture and video.
10. Celsius and Fahrenheit supported.

I attached some pictures here, and you may check the detail videos via our Youtube link,  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRjWpFoOm2fHIhDHSIlN7n2pVaQ1oJKvI


Now we are looking for the worldwide distributors, if you are interested with this product, please contact with me: adel@dianytech.com.



Adel
Shenzhen Dianyang Technology Co., Ltd.

[Vipitis]

Adjustable focus on the lens? Or via height adjustment? Example photos show a lot of pincushion distortion, do you correct that digitally and lose resolution/fov?

If you develop the software, perhaps allow for some stacking integration for lower noise and/or focus stacking - should you have a motorized lens.

This seems like two things to think about to make the product more compelling.

[Fraser]

Where PCBA inspection is concerned, we are in the realm of true thermography rather than ‘pretty pictures’ so key requirements are as follows....... (these are just generic and not specific to the Dianyang product)

1. Field of view .... is it adequate for the use scenario yet narrow enough to provide good IFOV ?

2. Manual focus ...... it is important to be able to focus the lens system for best clarity in the image. Fixed focus systems are a compromise solution that can mean poorly defined edge detail.

3. Thermal camera or Thermal microscope ? Such is determined by the lens system used. A relatively wide angle lens produces a thermal camera for PCBA overview but provides less detail. A narrower field of view combined with decent microbolomter resolution produces a thermal microscope that can provide good imagery of individual modern SMT components. Both types of imaging system require a close focus capability for PCBA work. With a single lens it can be hard to decide which type of PCBA inspection role to target. A wider angle lens is useful for a quick overview of a PCBA for hot spots or regions of interest. Digital Zoom adds little to the situation unless sophisticated interpolation is employed. A PCBA inspection and analysis  system will ideally provide at least two close focus fields of view. One for general PCBA assessment and one for detailed analysis of a region of interest. One method to achieve this in an affordable manner is the option to add a supplementary lens in front of the cameras primary lens. It is an old and well proven technique that can work well. Such techniques are common in stereo microscopes where supplemental lenses are screwed onto a mount in front of the objectives.

4. Resolution .... as usual... the higher the resolution provided, the better. It is worth considering the IFOV however as in this use scenario the correct selection of lens FOV still provides the required IFOV on target. A higher resolution would permit the use of a wider field of view lens for the same IFOV. I would consider 160 x 120 pixels the minimum resolution for PCBA inspection and 320 x 240 a good balance of resolution vs cost. The slightly lower Resolution Seek Pro cores would still provide adequate resolution in this scenario.

5. NETD ..... it is easy to get overly focussed on NETD when comparing thermal imaging systems. I advise caution as the NETD specifications can be misleading as I have discussed on this forum previously. When applying thermography to a PCBA inspection role, you need to consider the likely Delta T that will be present in the scene. In my experience NETD is less important in this application as the Delta T across a PCB is often quite large and so a relatively non demanding scene for a thermal camera. If trying to detect low currents passing through thin PCB tracks, you will likely struggle no matter what NETD is claimed. In high current failure modes, most components and tacks can glow brightly against their surroundings when observed by even a basic thermal imaging camera.

6. Measurement accuracy ? ..... let us get something out of the way immediately..... if you are thermal profiling a PCBA and need very accurate temperature measurements, you need to consider whether a thermal imaging camera is the most appropriate tool for the task. Most thermal imaging cameras state a measurement tolerance of at least +/-2C or 2% (whichever is greater) so you immediately have a potential error in any measurements taken on the PCBA. Then there is the issue of Emissivity. The emissivity of components on a PCBA can vary depending upon the material and shiny surfaces such as solder joints are a nightmare to measure with IR techniques. Plastic IC encapsulations are relatively simple to measure however. A thermal imaging system will help the user identify regions of interest or components that require further attention. It is sensible to use direct contact type temperature sensors on regions of interest to obtain more accurate temperature data. A unit like the Fluke Hydra equipped with many fine wire thermocouples is an appropriate temperature monitoring tool for the task.

7. System ergonomics..... just like when using a conventional microscope system, ergonomics are important for user acceptance. For a PCBA inspection thermal camera the user needs to have good visibility of the produced images. I would suggest that a small 3.5” LCD display, as found on the FLIR ETS320 PCBA camera is little more than an aiming aid ! Yes it works but a user will often prefer a much larger display. With this in mind, I am in favour of Thermal PCBA inspection systems that display their imagery on an external monitor of the users choosing, be that 10” or 100” diagonal dimension ! Granted the relatively low resolution of a thermal camera is an issue but a 12” to 22” monitor is a sensible choice for most tasks. This matter links in with PC connectivity in many cases as whilst some thermal cameras provide direct video output via Composite, VGA or HDMI, a PC is often used to analyse the images for more detail and measurements. With this in mind I support the format that uses a well designed imaging head that connects to a PC of the users choice and displays the images on a quality LCD panel, whilst also providing useful image enhancement and measurement capabilities through analysis software. As the owner of a FLIR ETS320 I can say that, whilst useful in a stand alone mode of operation, it really needs to be connected to a PC to get the best from it. The quality and format of the cameras mounting system is also very important to a user. Some mounting systems mimic a standard optical microscope design and can only accommodate a PCBA of of relatively small dimensions. For larger PCBA inspections there needs to be a “long arm” option that permits the user to mount the camera head on a long reach arm or an articulated arm. I would recommend that a manufacturer of such a product consider the head to stand mounting design to ensure that the camera head may be attached to either optional long reach arms or 3rd party articulated arm systems as commonly found on professional microscopes and even modern LCD monitors. The manufacturer could either offer alternative mounting options or ensure that the camera head is provided with a universal mounting system that may be used, or adapted for fitting to a 3rd party support system from microscope manufacturers etc. A PCBA inspection camera that can only accommodate the likes of mobile phone PCBA’s is severely limiting its potential l market appeal.

I will end this post here and move onto a new one to cover anything else plus software

Fraser

[Fraser]

OK.... part 2 of my general comments on PCBA inspection thermal cameras......

So far we have considered the camera head and the needs of the user where ergonomics are concerned. Basically a manufacturer needs to produce a versatile imaging solution that may easily be adapted to various roles found in both hobby and industrial use scenarios. Users have always had the option to mount a conventional thermal camera on a tripod or other mount to view a PCBA. Such is often a compromise solution however. The lens type and focus distance can be far from ideal for PCBA inspections and thermal profiling, but with little choice, the user make the best use of what they have available. A dedicated PCBA inspection camera offers those with a need for such with a ‘one stop’ ergonomically and technically refined solution to their PCBA thermal imaging needs. A hobbyist may elect to continue use of a generic thermal camera for such tasks due to cost but a PCBA inspection camera is still a viable product line as the electronics repair and research industries need such imaging equipment. High end thermal imaging equipment for PCBA work has traditionally been extremely expensive due to its specialist nature. The availability of more affordable imaging cores has the potential to change that situation.

As previously stated, I see a thermal camera based PCBA inspection system as comprising the camera head and a host that is running sophisticated image analysis software. Whilst a stand alone camera remains an effective tool, the added power of a host running analysis software adds much to the system, including the option for larger displays etc. The host system needs to be generic in nature fir broadest appeal in the market so I would expect to see support for PC, MAC, Linux, Android and iOS systems. The user may then select the host that most suits their needs. As a bare minimum, PC support is required.

The image analysis software is an area where a product can shine or fail. This applies to both all-in-one cameras and those using an external host fir image analysis. In its most basic firm, a hosts software will provide the user with the controls usually found on an all-in-one camera solution. Examples are....

Temperature Centre
Temperature Span
Auto Centre and Span mode
Emissivity
Ambient temperature
Distance to target
Colour Palette (LUT) selection
Spot temperature measurement
Image save
E-Zoom
Manual FFC activation

These are just the basics and image analysis software needs to offer a lot more to the user... examples are....

Spot and multi spot temperature measurement
Region of Interest
Highest and lowest temperature highlighting and measurement.
ISOTEMP capability
Scene Temperature alarm threshold and highlighting
Straight line temperature measurement plot
Image histogram view
Image stacking
Image annotation
Noise reduction algorithms with user selectable levels of effect
Mapping of temperature across the scene as a ‘heat map’
Temperature monitoring waterfall display
Electronic zoom with image enhancement through interpolation
Long term temperature logging of selected spots in scene
Camera measurement calibration the by user using reference Black Body sources (an advanced feature)
Video Recording function of display as seen by the user (spot temps, histograms etc.)
Time lapse image collection
Image saving options that include the RAW data, ‘As displayed’ frame grab, Radiometric JPEG and RGB JPEG.
Image overlay option for the semi transparent overlay of a reference PCBA board component layout (CAD image)
Image verification option for comparison of a DUT PCBA with a known good reference thermal image. Differences highlighted for user investigation and ‘alert’ differential values set by the user.
Option for a MSX style edge overlay using a visible light image of the PCBA taken with a separate camera.
PASS/FAIL PCBA test beaded upon preset permissible temperatures measures at specific points on the PCB. Many measurement points may be employed in such a test and thermal issues quickly identified.
Direct contact temperature measurement compatibility option where a thermocouple may be used to pass accurate temperature data to the software for use in its reporting. This would require a USB based thermocouple or PT100 thermometer as the data source. Such a data input could help with measurement accuracy and offset calculations by comparing the reported direct temperature measurement of an area with that reported by the thermal camera.

Well I think that is enough from me for now 

If DYT wish me to review their new product I would need ‘hands on’ experience of it for testing. I would be happy to carry out such a ‘Real World’ test.

Fraser

[Fraser]

It looks like I may be reviewing this PCBA inspection thermal camera for the forum.

Full disclosure : I have no connection to DYT or involvement in the development of this product. I am not paid by, or employed by Diane Yang Technology and would review this camera as an ‘end user’ might.

Fraser

[Fraser]

I have started a new thread to discuss the inspection of PCBA's using a thermal camera here........

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/use-of-a-thermal-camera-for-pcba-thermal-profiling-and-repair/

[Dianyang]

The lens can be adjust by manually, there is a big knob can easily adjust it, the motorized lens is a good idea, we will consider this to the new product design, hope this will not increase the cost a lot. Thanks

[Dianyang]

Hi Fraser,

Thanks for your comments on our product, we could improve and add many features in our products if we read your post some months before. We are glad to send you one free sample for the real test, hope that will let many engineer to understand the features of our product.

Actually before we made one handheld thermal camera, many customers use it for the PCBA analysis, but that is not a dedicated instrument, the features are not suitable for that, and the focus cannot let the camera very close to the PCBA, so we develop this product, hope it can used for R&D and maintenance field.

Thanks!

[Dianyang]

Hi,

Today I uploaded one video to Youtube, the link is below,

https://youtu.be/8ZH_afFHj3Q

This video is to show the user how to use "comparison" to quick locate the defect on PCBA.

The defect PCBA is the display always flash, so I connected all the components as the good one, then power on the two boards at the same time, after power on for few seconds, we found the power IC temperature is very high, finally it could reach 80°C, it maybe the power IC soldering issue, I've forward this information to the hardware engineer, he will know the final result.


Adel@dianytech.com

[Dianyang]

Hi All,

We will upgrade our software very soon, and I uploaded a new videos to Youtube, there are some new features below,

https://youtu.be/-UfqidkWbxw

1. To view the real time temperature curve of Region Of Interest, 5 points + 3 line, rectangle or polygon.
2. To add unlimited period temperature data saving, you may save the Region Of Interest for a very long time (CSV file), then analyze it as you like.
3. Automatic take photos if over threshold and mark as red color, each ROI threshold can be configured.
4. Add USB temperature sensor, plug and play, it will show the environment temperature as reference.
5. Add a temperature experimental box as accessory, the user can place the PCBA into the box, then simulate the PCBA inside product case, to measure the temperature and record.

These features are useful for PCBA R&D, to know the long time working temperature.

After this upgrade, CA-10 can repair the PCBA, to quick locate the short circuit, current leakage etc., and also help the R&D engineer to long time analyze the thermal of PCBA.

Thanks!